Water soluble toppers and stabilizers are embroidery products that dissolve in water. These products come in three main variations – toppers, bottom stabilizers, and hybrid products that can be used as either a topper or a bottom stabilizer.
The hybrid products are thicker clear water soluble products that are typically used to create patches or free standing lace (fsl). Hybrid topper/stabilizer products can be used both on top of the fabric and underneath the fabric during embroidery stitching.
Water soluble toppers (also often called “wss”) are clear, thinner water soluble products meant to place on top of embroidery to hold down terry cloth loops, the plush parts of velvets and similar fabrics, and the thick parts of sherpa and other thick, squishy fabrics. A water soluble topper has 2 uses – is used to hold down any fibers that might poke up and show through the embroidery, and it can also hold up stitches that might sink down into thicker or textured fabrics.
When a wss topper is not used, the plush part of the fabric can fold over on top of the stitching and get caught in the embroidery design. Using a clear wss topper allows the embroidery design to stitch without any stray fabric fibers poking through. Water soluble toppers are thin and tear easily, so they are not suitable to use under an embroidery design. Wss toppers also can be used on top of non-plush fabrics to allow easier clipping of jump stitches. In this case, the jump stitches sit on top of the wss topper, which allows the scissors to slip easier under the stitches without damaging the fabric underneath. Wss toppers also improve the stitch out on knit fabrics, as the stitches don’t sink into the little grooved ribs of the knit fabric. For more information on water soluble (wss) embroidery toppers, read our article on methods on how to easily remove the topper from finished embroidery designs.
Water soluble stabilizers are usually a white mesh product that can be rinsed out with water. Water soluble stabilizers tend to take more effort to completely rinse out of the design. If the product is not fully rinsed out, it can make the finished design feel stiff. Water soluble stabilizers are usually used in patches, in free standing lace (fsl), on the back of towels, and on any firm woven fabric that is stable enough to not need permanent stabilization. While a water soluble stabilizer can be used as a topper, it does not remove as easily as the topper. The finished item must be washable to achieve full removal. Stabilizers are thicker than toppers in order withstand hooping and stitching without tearing.
Make sure you are careful to label your water soluble stabilizer, as it is sometimes confused with tear away or cut away stabilizers, which are also white. When in doubt, wet an edge of the stabilizer. If the stabilizer dissolves, then it is a water soluble stabilizer.
Water soluble toppers and stabilizers have specific uses. Read here for suggested uses of each type of water soluble product.